Promote civic duty with brownies decorated with a "VOTE" theme in red, white and blue icing.

Ballot Box Brownies

1 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
CHOCOLATE FROSTING (optional)
Red, white, blue decorating icing in tube or can

1. Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.
2. Melt butter in medium saucepan; add cocoa, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Add sugar, salt, eggs and vanilla; beat with spoon until thoroughly combined. Add flour and baking powder; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if desired. Spread batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake 30 minutes or until top is dry and brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
4. Frost, if desired. Cut into bars.
5. Garnish with Vote theme, using red, white and blue icing.

Makes about 36 brownies.

CHOCOLATE FROSTING:
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
2 to 3 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Beat butter in small bowl. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency.
2. Stir in vanilla.

Makes about 1 cup frosting.

Recipe courtesy of the Hershey Kitchens, and reprinted with permission of The Hershey Company. © The Hershey Company.